Female Leaders?

It's kind of upsetting to know that there are so many pre-existing limitations on women for acquiring leadership roles and high-powered positions in the workplace.  We have actually been studying this in my stereotyping and prejudice class, and I wanted to share some of the theories for why this gender bias exists.  One such theory is called the "role congruity theory," which states that two types of prejudice prevent women from pursuing high-level positions or succeeding when they do obtain such positions.  One form of prejudice stems from the belief that women are less likely than men to be successful in a leadership role.  This belief can prevent women from seeking high-powered roles, and from being selected for them when they do seek them.  This originates from the idea that men are stereotypically seen as more of the "breadwinners" while women are seen as more communal.  The second form of prejudice is that a women face a higher probability of negative evaluations than do men in a similar role.  This is because women leaders occupy roles that violates expectations about what leaders should be like (high-status males) and it violates the expectation of what women should be like (communal).  So ladies, it seems as though we have a lot working against us, but maybe one day we will be seen at an equal level as men and be accepted into these typically male-dominated positions.

-Kristen Gilson